Wednesday, August 30, 2006

I'm even too lazy to post a toy today. In retaliation to cutting off Bart's front claws, Bart chewed up Man-E-Faces hand. Ouch!#@&! Oh well, maybe he can become Man-E-Hands or something. Well what does somebody want to see? Han Solo bungee jumping off a door? Optimus Prime Transforming into a duck? Doc Oc squirting ink? Give me a request for my toys to perform and I will get them to Action.

Monday, August 28, 2006

I wish I could be one of those toy collectors who picks something and goes with just that. Like just Star Wars, or just GI Joe, or just the Blue Power Rangers (which I really wish I did that). But since I seem to buy anything with joints, projectiles, and/or ooze I can come up with strange toy teams you never hear of.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Thanks to a buy two get one free sale, a still working employee 10 percent discount, and a tricky "I'll do the grocery shopping" to the wife, I got three new Lego Bionicles! And WOW after six years or so of Bionicle did Lego get them almost near perfect!?

Thanks to Toa Hewkii for modeling these shots. Their overall appearance looks great with both knees and elbows jointed. They have nice looking armor all around and their size fits well. They are balanced nicely and easy to stand.

Now for the good stuff... The Weapons. This time around they have a really fantastic shooting ball weapon. Unlike the Voya Nu the Inika can hold four shots (if you can understand that last sentence you are geekier than I). The refillable chamber is a nice addition. In the sets I bought, one out of the four balls was a different color shade, I wonder if thats a good omen? The other weapon lights up and flashes with all increasing rapid intensity. The part they got right this time is that it stays lit up for a few seconds instead of having to leave your finger on the button. Makes for great fights!

The new Mask system is kind of strange. They used to have a 'real' face underneith their mask, NOW it's this mysterious smooth nub. Much like the episode in GI Joe American Hero where that lady gets her face disappeared (again, if you know more about that you are an extreame ubber nerd). The mask fits real snug, but I kind of miss the face beneith the face.

This is the first Bionicle toy too without any cool gears inside (well the last series had arm gears). That is a definate downside. Those gears gave these guys a unique characteristic, sort of like a heart or something in my book. Oh well, I guess the ball shooter and light up weapon makes up for it this time. Another downside is only the black one has hands. I know that his ability is digging and scartching but still the others really need hands too still. No more stumps with weapons attached directly, come on. Also, for those who will run right to the store and get one after reading about this... WATCH OUT, only the yellow/black one (seen here in pictures) has the funky cool plastic chain. Why don't the other Bionicles get chains?

All in all, this is the best MADE series yet. Much better then the hunch back spinning fan shooters of last time. My favorite series is still the original one, they were simpler yet had more character for some reason. I give the new Bionicles eight out of ten lego man heads.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Kind of slow year for any good music, I finally caught up with a few okay scores for the year. Out of the three I found X-Men: The Last Stand was the most entertaining. It has the most original, catchy, and legthy themes to listen too. Favorite tracks are the zippy action music like 23. Attack on Alcatraz and 26. Phoenix Rises. I also like how John Powel the third composer for the X-men series of movies creates his own main theme topping the first two, yet making it less then a minute long. At least its played several times throughout the score. I would give the new X score four out of five stars.

Then there is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Hmmmm. Well I could mention the on going controversy of Original Swashbuckleing Pirate music VS Electronic music you heard in Crimson Tide, the Rock, Gladiator, the Peacemaker, Black Hawk Down, and every other Hans Zimmer related score, but I guess I won't. It's either a love or hate for people around. I think it works okay in these movies and will give a slight overall approval of it. As long as Zimmer starts making some new stuff after these movies. It makes good driving music, its loud and fun most of the time. The Dinner is searved waltz is my favorite track. I would give the new pirates score three out of five stars.

Superman Returns! Did you hear! I'm thrilled they didn't can the old music, for John Williams theme's are legendary and any new music would just be a bad copy of the original. John Ottman did not screw up the material at all (Allthough he didn't really add anything of his own to make it better). Its always good to hear the Superman theme once and awhile. I give the uses of the Superman theme five out of five stars but the rest of Ottman's score two out of five.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

I guess my favorite toy addiction for the moment is GI Joe Sigma Six. I had to get Freedom and he came with a neat figure called Spirit Iron-Knife. I was excited to hear that they are going to make a Monkey figure soon and it comes with some guy named Ship Wreck. Also Timber is going to be coming with a Snake Eyes soon. Hopefully they will make a Mutt that comes with a Junkyard. Anyone confused yet?